1984 - 1992 Previously I thought that a 350cc motorcycle would be adequate for my needs. I still think a 350 is adequate, but that's all. Eventually practically every biker, just like every computer user, comes to the conclusion that you can never have enough power. :-) In the early '80's, I began dreaming of owning a big American Harley. I remember visiting a H-D shop in State College at that time. It was nothing like the glitzy shops they have today. The thing that stuck me the most was that every bike on the floor had a pan underneath to collect the oil that dripped out. Common sense soon took over. I wanted a bike to ride, not to work on (Been there and done that on my Honda CB 350.) and I began looking for a Harley clone. I decided that I wanted a burgundy 700 Honda Shadow. I really wanted a 750, but at that time, the US government had slapped a tariff on any imported motorcycle over 700cc's. One day in 1984, while driving through State College, I glimpsed a dark red motorcycle for sale in a used car lot. I turned around and, sure enough, there was a used '83 burgundy 750 Honda Shadow for sale. It was exactly what I wanted! In a few days it was mine. My first impression of the Shadow 750 was speed. Twist the throttle and I was GONE! Later I had straight pipes installed and the thing really growled moving or just standing still. I also had an Amishman sew up some leather bags that I designed for the bike. It looked as good as it ran. My most euphoric moment was riding the Shadow side-by-side with Dave M. on his Honda 450 along a winding country road. We were riding into the sunset, listening to the music of our exhausts, being in perfect sync through every corner. In my mind, Steppenwolf's Born to be Wild was playing. Everything was right with the world. It's a feeling that I have been trying to recapture ever since. The picture above was taken soon after this blissful run. In the Spring of 1992 I was living near Philadelphia, and my bike was in winter storage in central Pa. Dave, bike-less at the time, somehow convinced me to lend him the Shadow over the weekend. I was wary, but he assured me that nothing would happen and sweetened the deal by paying to have the bike inspected and serviced, so I agreed. Mistake! Of course, something "happened." His girlfriend dropped him off to pick up the bike from storage and on their way to the mechanic, she was following to closely and ran into him on the highway. Fortunately David was OK, but the Shadow was history. Another lesson learned.
193? - : Indian 1971 -1973: Buffalo 1972 -1984: Kawasaki 100 1979 -1983: CB 350 1984 -1992: Shadow 750 1993 -1999: H-D FXDL 1994 -1995: Honda Hawk 1995 - 2004: Shadow 700 1996 - Present: Valkyrie
Email: motorcycle@kvrr.net